SC orders transfer of DPWH graft cases to Cebu

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the transfer of graft and malversation cases against contractor Sarah Discaya and eight Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Davao Occidental officials from the Malita Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Davao Occidental to the Lapu-Lapu City RTC in Cebu.

SC spokesperson Camille Ting confirmed the transfer aligns with SC guidelines for corruption-related cases stemming from infrastructure projects to be sent to the nearest designated anti-graft court within the nearest judicial region.

Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesman Raphael Martinez stated that the transfer of venue was initiated by the local courts themselves in compliance with the SC Office of the Court Administrator's designation of select RTCs to handle such cases.

The records of the cases are currently being transferred, and the DOJ awaits confirmation from the SC Office of the Court Administrator once the process is finalized.

These cases are related to a P96.5-billion ghost project concerning a revetment in Barangay Culaman, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, for which Discaya and others were charged by the Office of the Ombudsman.